CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
By the time they met up with Rykker, Olivia’s new runes were itching even more than previously, as though her sudden burst of strength and speed had somehow made the pigment react even more with her existing ink. As a result, she was downright distracted when they strode up to the log on which Rykker was waiting for them.
He’d kept moving at a good clip, following the Raxxian trail while updating Arkness as to his coordinates. They were deep in the no-fly zone now, and calling in backup would only draw who knew what sort of unwanted attention to the area. Keeping their unit small and hidden was the best option they had.
“Rykker,” Arkness greeted with a haughty grin creasing his lips as if he knew something his rival didn’t.
“Arkness,” the man replied, likewise flashing a little hint of amusement as his eyes locked with Olivia’s, noting the flush to her cheeks with delight. “Olivia, I’m glad to see you.”
“You too,” she replied, a whiff of his smell hitting her like an olfactory fist across her overstimulated senses.
Oh, fuck, she nearly groaned as the scent made her nipples harden and her clit throb in an instant.Are you kidding me?When Arkness’s smell mixed with Rykker’s it only compounded the effect. More than that, the tattoo on her chest flared up hard, itching something fierce as well. She rubbed at the discomfort.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, it’s just this tattoo Nijello gave me is itching like hell today. Is that normal?”
“The Infala?” Rykker replied, a curious look in his eye.
“Yeah, that one.”
“May I see?”
“Sure,” she said, lifting her top enough to expose the changing design. “It’s not the way it was when it started. I know Nijello said it would eventually change, but this is really distracting.”
Rykker leaned in and studied the design. He knew his own Infala well, and while parts of her design were similar to his, it was not a match. His had been moving slowly of its own accord lately as well, but it was clearly not the same as hers. He glanced at Arkness. Amazingly, the confident look he always wore seemed diminished at the sight. Apparently, her Infala did not match his, either.
Rykker gently touched the rune, Olivia’s skin prickling with gooseflesh at his touch. “The activity in your pigments is unusual. And I see it is incorporating more and more with your existing decorative markings as well. Fascinating, and worth further study.”
“I can scan your runes when we are back at the ship,” Arkness interjected. “I have more medical experience than Rykker does.”
“Yes, but because I elected to focus on other sciences.”
“Still, that means I am best qualified to study her runes.”
Olivia shook her head, more than a little overwhelmed by the waves of masculine energy wafting off the two. “Fellas, please. My friend is in danger. There’s no time for this.”
Amazingly, the two heeded her words at once, as if an unspoken truce had been forged in the blink of an eye.
“She’s right,” Arkness admitted.
“Agreed. And we have trained for this day, have we not?”
“That we have.”
“Then let’s do this.”
The two men, rivals in all things, put their differences aside, their years upon years of teamwork and cooperation prior to Olivia’s arrival throwing a wrench in the works suddenly on full display. The pair spread out, each ready for action while Olivia followed at a distance as instructed. They needed her close enough to calm her friend when they found her, but far enough back to be safe.
As safe as anyone could be, given the circumstances.
They moved forward quickly and silently, flashing hand signs to one another, leapfrogging on the left and right sides as Olivia advanced up the middle. It was an impressive sight, the way the two men had slipped back into the efficiency of their shared training. It was like a backstage pass to some sort of covert ops commando performance, only this was real, and the participants were her lovers.
Lovers who didn’t know about her tryst with the other.
I’m going to need to do something about that, she unhappily admitted to herself.After we get back, though. Definitely after.
Rykker held up his fist, signaling a stop. He tapped his ear and pointed.
